Programme
Monday 22 October
Arrival in Japan
Tuesday 23 October
Kao Corporation – Safety Science Research Laboratories
The Kao Group develops consumer product business that targets general consumers. Kao Group business segments that cater to the consumer include: the Beauty Care Business in which they offer prestige cosmetics, and premium skin care and hair care products; the Human Health Care Business with products that include functional health beverages and feminine and baby care products; and the Fabric and Home Care Business, which includes laundry detergents and household cleaners. Also, in the Chemical Business they develop chemical products that meet the various needs of industry.
Wednesday 24 October
University of Tokyo – Research Center for Food Safety
Dr. Tsutomu Sekizaki is the Director of the Research Center. Its main organization falls in two groups: Committee and Advisory Board. The “Committee” is constituted of faculty staff, which includes professors and other officers. The “Advisory Board” is constituted by representatives from food science companies and organizations. This organization is also influenced by the diverse collaboration of this Research Center with domestic and foreign institutes/universities.
The Research Center has four big divisions, each specializing in an aspect of food safety. The four divisions are:
1. Division of Radiological Sciences
2. Division of Risk Assessment Science
3. Division of Risk Control Science
4. Division of Information Science and Economics
All four of these divisions collaborate to work on four major themes running at the research center. The research activity is focused towards:
1. Risk analysis and Epidemiology.
2. Low risk and high quality food production.
3. Food Chain
4. Education
Thursday 25 October
University of Tokyo – Department of Global Health Policy
History – University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo, also known as "Todai" was established in 1877 as the first national university in Japan. As a leading research university, Todai offers courses in essentially all academic disciplines at both undergraduate and graduate levels and conducts research across the full spectrum of academic activity. The university aims to provide its students with a rich and varied academic environment that ensures opportunities for both intellectual development and the acquisition of professional knowledge and skills.
Mission - Department of Global Health Policy
The mission of the Department of Global Health Policy is to improve population health by enhancing accountability and improving evidence base of global health programmes through the provision of best possible information and rigorous monitoring and evaluation.
The department's members generate knowledge and ideas through their research, strengthen technical and leadership skills through educational programs, and enhance national capacities through collaborative projects, especially in the developing world.The priority areas of research within the department are:
• Health outcome research
• Health system performance assessment
• Health and foreign policy
Friday 26 October
Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research
"Preventive medicine" and " A healthy intestinal tract leads to a long life " are the philosophies of the founder of Yakult, Dr. Minoru Shirota, and they are themes which have remained unchanged, even as times have changed and technology has advanced. The institute approaches research and development on the basis of these concepts. Yakult Central Institute pursues Yakult's life science, which is the search for new possibilities for lactic acid bacteria to play a role in our health in the future.
Major Research Fields
Materials development and application research for food products, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics that are beneficial in maintaining, enhancing and revitalizing people's health, as well as microbiology, nutritional science, physiological sciences, immunology, biochemistry, bioengineering, organic chemistry, fermentation engineering, natural products chemistry, pharmaceutical science, analytical chemistry.
Saturday 27 October & Sunday 28 October
Social Program Tokyo
Monday 29 October
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology – Laboratory of Food Microbiology
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology was established by merging Tokyo University of Mercantile Marine and Tokyo University of Fisheries on October 1, 2003. Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology plays a significant role in maritime education within Japan, since both pioneering predecessor universities specialized in related fields based upon traditions of over one hundred years.
Laboratory of Food Microbiology
In the Laboratory of Food Microbiology, microbiology research as it relates to food product is conducted. The objectives are : (1) ensuring food safety, protection of food resources, and the environment, (2) preventing the waste of food resources due to microbial spoilage or contamination by food poisoning bacteria, and (3) detecting key microorganisms in diet good for human health.
The laboratory is actively pursuing opportunities for collaboration with the food industry and is developing researchers with the goal of conducting research that is directly linked to the needs of society.
The Laboratory of Food Microbiology research focuses on the following areas:
Rapidly identify bacterial strains and detect and identify contamination based on gene sequences (discrimination of strains); bacteria detection methods
Develop methods to extend the quality preservation period in packaged foods and microbiological safety (e.g., risk assessment of Clostridium botulinum)
Analyze and detect intestinal bacteria from the perspective of diet and human health.
Megmilk Snow Brand – Milk Science Research Institute
The company has a strong focus on milk. By expanding the market of milk and milk products, the company contributes to the strengthening of the dairy industry in Japan. The management of the company is consumer-oriented and includes the following topics:
- Providing products and services consumer can us safely, and securely.
- Publishing and disclosing as much information as possible.
- Listening to consumers and reflecting their opinions in the business.
- Building and maintaining a risk management framework so that the company can quickly and appropriately respond to even unexpected occasions.
Tuesday 30 October
Travelling to Kyoto
Wednesday 31 October
Kyoto University – Institute for Chemical Research
Adaptation of Microorganisms to the Environment
Molecular mechanism of the environmental adaptation of extremophilic microorganisms is under investigation. In particular, cold adaptation mechanism of psychrotrophs is studied. As well as the application of these microorganisms and their cold-active enzymes.Structures, Functions, and Reaction Mechanisms of Microbial Enzymes
Microorganisms are capable of converting a great variety of chemicals. They produce various unique enzymes to assimilate or degrade substrates in the environment. Many of these enzymes are attracting a great deal of attention because of their possible industrial applications. In the institute structures, functions, and reaction mechanisms of microbial enzymes and developing their applications are studied.
Functions of Lipids and Proteins in Biological Membrane
Biological membrane separates inside and outside of the cell. Various essential biological processes such as influx of nutrients, efflux of wastes, and signal transduction occur at the membrane. Interaction between phospholipids and proteins is under investigation to understand how biological membrane is constructed and properly functions.
Thursday 1 November
Suntory Yamazaki Distillery
Since Suntory was founded in 1899, the mission has been to bring happiness into the lives of the customers by providing a range of alcoholic beverages such as whiskies, beers, and wines, along with other soft drinks such as oolong tea and canned coffee. Inspired by factory motto of "Yatte Minahare—Go for it!", today Suntory has continued to grow as an alcoholic beverage and food company by constantly challenging itself to redefine value. Furthermore, Suntory has expanded these core segments to encompass a diverse portfolio of businesses that includes health foods, food services, and flowers.
Yamazaki Distillery is distinguished by its uniqueness that a single distillery can produce a variety of whiskies, which a very few distillery in the world can match up. It all started with Suntory’s pursuit of crafting world-class whisky to please the delicate Japanese palate. This theme has been a constant over the distillery’s long history as craftsmen add new innovations while continuing to practice skills passed down by their predecessors. The story of how Yamazaki Distillery crafted Yamazaki single malt whisky and endowed it with a world-class level of quality is the story of Japanese whisky itself, and it is no exaggeration to say that this is a sacred spot for Japanese whisky. Together with a moist, lush climate that is blessed with distinct seasons, Yamazaki’s abundant supply of superb-quality water makes it a utopia in which to craft whiskies that are truly exceptional.
Friday 2 November
RIKEN Spring-8 Center – Harima Institute
Spring-8 is a large synchrotron radiation facility which delivers the most powerful synchrotron radiation currently available. The name “Spring-8” is derived from “Super Photon ring-8 GeV” (8 GeV or 8 giga electron volts, being the power output of the ring). Construction on the SPring-8 synchrotron radiation facility within the Harima Science Garden City began in 1991 and took six years to complete. Since then, RIKEN has worked to add related installations and new beamlines in keeping with its mandate from the Japanese government to enhance and promote the shared use of this large-scale research facility with other research institutions, universities, and private businesses.
RIKEN’s Harima Institute was established in October 1997, to manage the campus where SPring-8 is located and to provide general support for synchrotron radiation research using SPring-8. In October 2005, the RIKEN SPring-8 Center was created within the Harima Institute to reinforce RIKEN’s own synchrotron radiation research. This Center is now working to create new light sources, pioneer new uses of these light sources, and to thereby advance research and development in synchrotron radiation and related fields. The Center also focuses on technical developments for the best SPring-8 Synchrotron Radiation (SR) sources and conceptual design of a new light source for the next generation SR.